Danube III (1924); Service vessel; Tug

Scale 1:48. A contemporary full hull model of 'Danube III' (1924), a river and estuary steam tug. Constructed in the builder's style, the model is decked, fully equipped and rigged and mounted on modern display crutches. Built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby, Yorkshire, it measured 110 feet length by 27 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 233 gross. It was powered by a reciprocating steam engine of 900 horsepower producing a service speed of 11 knots.

This tug was designed specifically for the handling of the large 2,000-ton hoppers and associated river plant in the confined waters of the river. It was employed in this capacity by the Tilbury Contracting and Dredging Company until the beginning of the Second World War. During the early part of the war 'Danube III' was employed in the ship examination service in the Thames Estuary, and as such, was manned by personnel from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Its career was short lived as it was sunk by a magnetic mine off Sheerness in October 1940.

Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London